Question: When I was sixteen I tried to commit suicide. At that same moment my father was in a church praying for me. I know the Lord answered his prayers because I am still alive today. After undergoing all of the worldly counseling I was able to go live with my dad. I came to know Jesus as my savior. I was on a good road of living a good Christian life. However I have hit many roadblocks. I think I have probable disobeyed every commandment God has given. I know God is forgiving. However, on many days I feel that the only thing I have to look forward to is "Whoever believes in Me shall not perish but have eternal life." My question why are we so tempted by Satan? I pray to do what the lord wants me to do, but I feel I fail always: because of this I doubt am I really a believer. I need direction.

Response: Your sins, as all our sins, are very serious in the sight of God. So much so that it in order to forgive you, God had to give His Son, Jesus Christ, to be your substitute and take upon himself the penalty for your sin. (1 Peter 2:24; 3:18; If you haven't seen Mel Gibson's - The Passion - I recommend it.) God, in Christ's death on the cross, said, once and for all, "I love you. I forgive you." If you doubt God's love and forgiveness, there is only one place to look - the cross.

Consider David, who not only committed adultery, but also murder. Psalm 51 is his prayer for forgiveness, probably after this sin. David Roper has written - "David paid dearly for his few moments of pleasure. His family life and political career came apart at the seams from that time on. All that Nathan predicted came true. 'God is not mocked. A man reaps what he sows' (Gal 6:7) . . . When our seams have been opened and our evil deeds have been exposed, God reminds us of His cross, His forgiveness, and His incomparable grace. Then He begins to make us new . . . God takes the worst we can do and makes it part of the good He has promised. He's the Good of fools and failures and the God of another chance."

When you doubt God's ability or willingness to forgive you - look to the cross - Christ's sacrifice was completely sufficient as payment for not just all of your sins, but for those of the whole world (1 John 2:2); God’s sacrifice of His Son on the cross was made before any and all of your sins were committed. God knew all the evil and sin you would commit and yet He loved (and still loves) you enough to send His only begotten Son to die in your place. "If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His only Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things" (Romans 8:31-32). Just as it is a matter of faith to claim and trust in God’s forgiveness because He delivered Christ over for us, it is also a matter of faith to look for and see His goodness and blessing in “all things.” Look for, rejoice in, and thank Him for the blessings that He sends your way.

Here are a couple of practical suggestions. Memorize Scripture. When you are tempted to sin, or when you are tempted to doubt God's forgiveness or goodness, you'll be able to repeat Scriptures that focus on God's grace and forgiveness. The Holy Spirit will use the Word of God to help you resist temptation and grow strong in your faith. Satan can and does tempt us to sin - but "greater is He who (the Holy Spirit) is in you than he who is in the world (Satan)" 1 John 4:4. Confess your sins to a trusted friend, another believer who understands what it means to be a forgiven sinner. Then meet with that friend weekly in an accountability relationship. James tells us to “Confess your sins one to another and pray for one another so that you may be healed” (5:16).

Hope this is of some use and help. God bless you.

Pastor Rick Lum